Persall’s background includes work on the X-37 spaceplane, the X-43, and the X-51 during his tenure with the U.S. Air Force. Following his service, he moved to Scaled Composites to engineer flight test instrumentation for SpaceShipTwo and White Knight Two, eventually supporting the New Glenn program at Blue Origin. Across his career, he has earned first-flight credit on 12 distinct spacefaring or hypersonic vehicles.

At VIVIFY, Persall will focus on transitioning the Flying Pig™ containerized power unit from testing to commercial deployment. CEO Jason Herring noted that Persall’s experience in verifying unproven technology is essential for the company's hydrogen systems. Persall, an Auburn University alumnus, emphasizes a data-driven approach to validation, aiming to apply the same rigorous discipline used in experimental aviation to refine VIVIFY’s manufacturing and production processes.